Athira Sethu
Kochi, 20 January 2025
TikTok started restoring services in the US after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans for reviving the app when he takes office on Monday. Talking at a rally on Sunday, Trump said: “We have no choice. We have to save it.” In addition, Trump said that America will look at a joint venture to ensure its future as 170 million Americans utilize the app.
Before the rally, TikTok notified users that “Thanks to President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.” Some users were able to regain partial access to the app on Sunday but still could not download it from the U.S. app stores. TikTok thanked Trump for giving clarity to the service providers, so they won’t be penalized for making the app available.
Return for TikTok amidst strained U.S.-China relations. The Chinese Embassy has responded by saying the U.S. is unfairly targeting TikTok, but Trump still expressed hopes of better communication with China’s leaders.
The app was banned first on grounds of national security. Officials feared that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could misuse American data. Trump said he would delay the ban to negotiate a solution protecting U.S. interests, proposing a joint venture where the U.S. would hold a 50% stake.
This is a sharp turn in direction from earlier. In 2020, Trump tried to ban TikTok for security reasons, but he credits the app for helping him reach younger voters.
Republican senators, however, have criticized the effort to bypass the ban. They argue that TikTok can only be allowed if ByteDance cuts all its ties with China.
Other ByteDance-owned apps, such as CapCut, remain inaccessible. VPN searches spiked as people attempted to restore access. Firms that use TikTok for marketing purposes reported chaotic conditions.
Reports indicate some of the potential bidders for TikTok’s U.S. operations are Elon Musk and other interested parties. Institutional investors still own 60% of ByteDance. The founders and employees own the remaining shares.
